Travel Tip: Very Quiet Places to Visit

Photo Credit: Michael L. Baird

If noise is one of your worst nightmares, I’ve got some suggestions for some of the quietest places on earth. And a lot of them are right here in the U.S.

Olympic National Park in Washington is a true hidden quiet gem with its three different ecosystems.

Another is the Kelso Dunes in the Mojave Desert, where you can enjoy the miles of silent sand dunes.

Photo Credit: Michael L. Baird

Havasu Canyon in Arizona is one of the quietest parts of Grand Canyon, and the noise level there is as low as 20 decibels. For comparison, the noise level in Central Park is way above 70.

If you want to experience your quiet place abroad, there is always Landmannalaugar in Iceland. In this land of natural hot spring baths, volcanoes and mountains, you are very likely to be left alone–one on one with nature.

One of the quietest places on Earth is actually man-made: Orfield Laboratories in Minnesota. The lab provides services in acoustic and vibration to private companies, but it also welcomes visitors. And what do you hear when you’re there? Your heart beat. Most folks can’t last in the lab alone for more than 20 minutes. It’s just too quiet.